DIY apple votives at my friend Emily's bridal shower

I think that I can say with relative certainty that most of us are on Pinterest (and when I say on, I really mean "obsessed-with").


Pinterest is a WONDERFUL site that has allowed us to neatly organize all of our recipes, projects and inspirations into one, easily accessible place. It has also allowed us to dream big in terms of what we want our weddings/houses/clothes/etc. to look like, and has given us countless ideas about book nooks and outdoor backyard retreats. Some of these ideas are practical, but most of them are not. (Which is okay, as long as you face the fact that you may not be able to ever afford that dream home with views of the Rocky Mountains).

When I was married in 2010, I did not yet know about Pinterest, and am almost glad that I didn't. Instead of being able to pin everything I loved, I had about a bazillion Safari bookmarks on my laptop and print outs of ideas covering the floor of my bedroom. Not having Pinterest was, in a sense, helpful, because it allowed me to stay reasonable* in terms of what I could and could not make for my wedding.

(*I say reasonable because my husband would probably not agree. I ended up making A LOT of things for our wedding. But it could have been worse).

All brides want to craft a beautiful and unique affair, and Pinterest is a great source of inspiration and tips. But it is important to remember that if you tried to create every pin on your "Dream Wedding" board, you would probably have to quit your job and hole up in your craft room for months. Even so, reasonably budgeting your wedding to include DIY options is a great way to save money while giving your event a personal touch.

For some brides, the extent of their DIY crafting will consist of special centerpieces. For other brides on a strict budget, crafting may mean a DIY dress, DIY flowers, DIY invitations, DIY etc. etc. etc.


Image via Amy Atlas

So here are some guidelines for you ambitious, Pinterest-swooning crafty brides.

1. Stay reasonable. You probably won't be able to do EVERYTHING yourself, unless you have 10 bridesmaids and a very supportive groom.
2. If you do have a lot of wonderful bridesmaids or family members who are willing to help, you should have a lot of time. Don't expect to make every detail for your wedding if your engagement is only going to be a few months.
3. Pick your projects, plan ahead and make a timeline. If you aren't organized, or don't have time, designate this task to someone in your party.
4. Keep prices and time commitment per project in mind. Sometimes you may think that doing it yourself will save money, but sometimes the time spent doing the project doesn't equal the cost of buying it pre-made or hiring someone to do it (this is especially true for decorating).
5. If you have a lot of time to acquire things for crafts, ask friends, church members, family, neighbors, or anyone you can think of if they have items you need. You will be surprised what people have available.
6. If you have a lot of decorations or things that need to be placed the day-of, hire a coordinator. You should not be staying up until midnight to finish ceiling draping the night before, or hanging lanterns in your dress on the day-of. Sometimes your venue will do this for you, but often if you want any extra things (like ceiling decorations) you are required to set it up. If you are able, budget a coordinator into your planning to do this last minute stuff. You will be so glad you did!


Don't try to do something like this alone! Image via Wendy Binns.

My advice is to pick 3 or 4 big projects and leave it at that. Only one (or maybe two, depending) of these projects should require you to do any work the night before or the day of.

Here are some good resources:

Etsy: can buy pre-made items or acquire goods from brides who don't need 150 vases anymore :)
Save-on-Crafts: cheap craft supplies and event decor
Dollar Tree: You can buy in bulk on their website, and they have many, many great items for parties
Craigslist: check the Free section, or do a site search for specific items
Freecycle: see if your local community has a Freecycle chapter. Members can post things they are looking to get rid of...all free!
The Knot: Check the local wedding section of theknot.com's wedding boards. Many newlyweds post ads to sell items from their weddings.

Readers: What do you think? If you are married, What DIY projects did you tackle for your big day? What would you have done differently?